Apparatus for gathering molten glass



ASS.

J. B. GRAHAM. APPARATUS FOR GATHERING MOLTEN GL I APPLICATION flLED IAN. I8, I917.

m H 6 w z I WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEY.

J. B. GRAHAM.

APPARATUS FOR GATHERING MOLTEN GLASS. APPLICATION FILED JAN 18. 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W I TNESSES:

471%. i M JIM v6,

1 VENTOR.

A; ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept 28, 19200 J. B. GRAHAM. APPARATUS FOR GATHERING MOLTEN GLASS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1917.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.,

3 SHEETSSHEET s.

IN V EN TOR. 44.

Mm a ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. GRAHAM, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO OWENS BOTTLE MACHINE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR GATHERING MOLTEN GLASS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 28, 1920.,

Application filed January 18, 1917. Serial No. 143,002.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH B. GRAHAM,

i a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Gathering Molten Glass; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

It is old in the glass-making art to establish a flowing stream of molten glass from a glass-furnace or pot and sever said stream into unformed molten masses of predetermined quantity and distribute the same into suitable receptacles.

Several patents for devices for accomplishing this purpose have been heretofore granted. One of the best of these is the device shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,100,776 to Luis W. Proeger dated June 23, 1914:, and in Letters Patent No. 1,143,317 to Luis W. Proeger, dated June 15,1915.

Said Proeger patents disclose a construction comprising a two part cup or receptacle directly beneath the flow opening in the bottom of the furnace or flowing-spout containing the molten glass. A cut-off member forms a removable bottom for closing the lower end of said receptacle. When a charge of glass has accumulated in the receptacle the cut-off is swung to one side and the two halves or side walls of the receptacle are separated to permit the gather to drop into a mold therebeneath.

In carrying out the present invention a similar construction may be employed, although the functions and operation of the receptacle in which the glass is accumulated involve a substantial departure from anything disclosed in the Proeger patents. In accordance with my invention a two part receptacle is also employed having a removable bottom provided with a cut-off. Said bottom, however, is withdrawn during the accumulation of a charge in the receptacle, leaving the accumulating charge temporarily supported by the side walls of the receptacle for a substantial period of time before said-walls are separated to drop the charge into the mold. While the charge is thus supported after the bottom has been withdrawn the lower surface of the mass is given opportunity to be reheated from the interior of the mass, whereby the surface ing also serves to remove the scar ordinarily formed by the cut-oif.

The present invention relates particularly to the improved means for operating the two part receptacle and cut-ofl device and whereby such operations are timed in accordance with the requirements of the invention. More specifically the invention relates to improvements in means for separatmg the walls of the receptacle; also to the means for actuating the knife cooperating with the bottom of said two-part receptacle or chamber to sever the stream of glass; the means for actuating these parts in the Procger patents being by hand-power and the means herein shown being automatic; also to the means whereby the removable bottom is withdrawn from contact with the accumulatingmass ofglass and the latter while supported by the side walls of the receptacle, is permitted to depend from the discharge opening of the receptacle whereby the glass assumes the globular form which it naturally assumes when dropped from a punty and the cooled surface is reheated from the interior of the mass, whereupon the two-part receptacle is opened and the glass is attenuated above the globule, the two-part receptacle is immediately closed andv theknife immediately follows so that the stream is severed from the main stream by the knife, the end of the stream being inclose'd and supported by the two-part receptacle and knife while the mold is being brought to receiving position by the moldtable; also means for synchronizing the movements of the two-part receptacle and knife with the movements of a mold-table carrying blank-molds or blowing-molds or 'both; also so arranging said means that the mold-table may be withdrawn from its working relation with the two-part chamber or receptacle and knife while the latter continue in operation, so that a suitable stream of glass through the orifice in the furnace and said two-part chamber may be established and the viscosity of the glass may be tested and regulated before proceeding with the molding and blowing operations.

I have not shown the glass-tank nor the mold-table in the drawings, as it will be unmold-carrying derstood they may be of any usualor suitable form known to the art.

My invention in its preferred form comprises. air-pistons reciprocating the movable walls of the two-part chamber or receptacle; an air-piston for reciprocating the cuttingmember cooperating with said receptacle to cut the stream of glass; connecting pipes which connect said air-pistons with valves regulating the supply of air to the air-pistons; timing cylinders controlling the operation of said valves and a cam upon the mold-table operating in synchronism with the intermittent rotation of the mold-carrying platform, which cam operates valves controlling the air-circuits in the conduits connected with the air-pistons which actuate said knife and movable walls of said two-part chamber. Said cam makes one complete revolution during the time of making one gather. Said air-system is connected with a general air pressure supply furnishing suflicient pressure to operate the same.

I do not, however, limit my invention to the use of said air-pistons, air-cylinders, valves and pipes for effecting the operation of said parts in synchronism with the stepby-step movement of the mold-carrying platform of the mold-table, for, the functions of these parts may be performed by magnetic instead of pneumatic force by substituting solenoids for the air-pistons and electric switches for the air-valves and a timing electric cam-switch for the mechanical timing cam'operating in unison with the platform of the mold-table, and electric circuits for the pneumatic circuits, which substitutions will readily occur to, and may be made by, any skilled mechanic.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that in gathering from glass-furnaces by means of a flowing stream, the glass-furnace is provided with an extension placed in, and attached to, the wall of the furnace at a point slightly below the line of the molten glass within the furnace, so that the molten glass flows out into this extension, which is sometimes called a flowblock and sometimes is referred to as a dog-house and sometimes as a flowingspout.

In practice it is expedient to have means for super-heating the glass in this spout so as to maintain its plasticity and regulate the degree of its viscosity. This flow-block or spout is shown in Figure 1 of the Proeger Patent No. 1,100,776 in its usual form, and is there designated by numeral .3.

It is also well known in the art that if molten glass comes in contact with cold metal it is vchilled to a certain extent and there is formed on the outside of the molten glass a skin of-chilled glass; that if it comes into contact with metal which is too hot the glass will adhere to the metal; and therefore in all successful apparatus for utilizing a flowing stream of glass, it is necessary that the metal parts which come in contact with the stream of glass be maintained at a temperature as high as possible to prevent chilling and not so high as to result in the glass adhering to the metal parts, and this is done by a stream of water passing through the metal parts which are Waterjacketed.

It hasbeen observed in the operation of separating a flowing stream of glass into gathersof predetermined quantity that if, by coming in contact with the metal parts, a very thin skin of glass of a lower temperature than the temperature of the mass to be gathered, is formed at the point of contact, if the gather is separated from contact with the metal and is not too long exposed to the air, the contained heat in the molten glass will reheat the chilled surface so as to obviate any effect thereof in the subsequent manipulation of the gather. This reheating action is utilized in the present invention for getting the gather of glass into the best condition for introduction to the forming mold.

In Proegers Patent, No. 1,100,776, he thus states his invention:

To this end my invention consists generally in a receptacle containing a supply of molten glass having a discharge openlng in the bottom and a member below said opening having an opening registering with the opening in said receptacle and provided with movable walls so that said movable member can be separated from the glass passing through said opening, and a cutting-oft member in operative relation to said movable memberrfor cutting oil the supply of molten glass to the mold-table or other receptacle below said movable member, and said cutting-01f member forming a closed extension to said first named receptacle containing less than the charge of glass required for the article to be found.

The parts and combination of Proeger thus stated are availed of in my invention, but the means of operating these parts as shown in the Proeger patent are not availed of in my combination.

The two-part receptacle below the flow block as shown in the "Proeger patent operated on swinging arms and the connecting member immediately .below this two-part member also had a swinging'movement and both were actuated by a hand-lever. There was no means provided for automatically In my apparatus these parts are reciprocated by pistons and operate automatically The form, construction and timed operation of the two part receptacle and cut-oif for collecting and discharging the gathers of glass form the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 17 4,697 filed June 14, 1917.- The present application is directed particularly to the controlling system and mechanism for controlling and actuating said parts.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an apparatus embodying the principles of my invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the two-part receptacle in which the flowing glass is accumulated and temporarily supported. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the reciprocating bottom and severing device. Fig. 5 is an elevation of Fig. 4. Fig.'6 is a sectional plan of the same. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus, including the system of operating and controlling piston motors and valves. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the valve controlling the supply of compressed air for operating the piston motors to close the gathering receptacle. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a cam operated valve.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a cam opcrating. in synehronism with the rotary mold table and controlling the operation of the gathering receptacle and cut-off device. Fig. 11 is a sectional View showing the flow block or boot from which a continuous stream of glass is supplied, and the receptacle in which the glass is gathered preparatory to being transferred to the forming molds.

The molten glass may be supplied as usual from a continuous melting tank, (not shown) provided with an extensionor clay boot F, forming a receptacle from which the molten glass D is drawn. A continuous flow or stream of glass from the boot F is established by means of an opening in the bottom thereof, said opening formed in a removable bushing E. Cast iron or metal supports G, Hare provided for the boot F. Beneath the bushing E is a device 1 formed with a central opening in register with the openin in the bushing and forming substantia y a continuation of the passa eway through the bushing E. Said device 1 orms in combination with a removable bottom J a gathering receptacle or temporary retainer in which the glass is arrested and temporarily supported as it accumulates to form a gather or mass, which is subsequently discharged through the open bottom of the receptacle 1 into a mold therebeneath. The

receptacle 1 is preferably sectional or divided into two parts, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which parts may be separated after the bottom J has been withdrawn to allow the accumulated mass or gather to dropfreely from the receptacle.

The sections of the receptacle 1 may be provided with water-chambers I in which water is circulated for cooling the receptacle, pipe connections being made at the openings 2. A ring 0 of cast iron or steel in the bottom of the receptacle 1 provides a shearing edge to cooperate with the blade or shearing device 4 carried by the reciprocating bottom J. 'Said bottom may also be water cooled and for this purpose is provided with a passageway as shown in Fig. 6. having openings 6 for the water connections. The sections of the receptacle 1 are reciprocated by air motors comprlslng pistons connected to said sections and reciprocating in cylinders 8, Fig. 7. The bottom J is reciprocated in a similar manner by the air motor 25. Said bottom has a shank 3 by which it is attached to the piston rod of its motor, and carries rollers 5, (Figs. 5 and 6) running on guides 7, Fig. 7. The flow of the stream from the boot F is regulated by the plug 50, (Fig. 7) in the furnace 49. The plug'is made of refractory material, and is adjustable toward and from the mouth of the opening by means of a hand wheel 51 connected to the plug through a lever 52.

In the operation of the mechanism thus far described, the two halves of the receptacle or cup 1 are brought, together (after discharging a gather of glass) and the bottom J is moved horizontally to close'the lower end of the cup. As the bottom J is moved to closing position, the cutteret severs the gob of glass that has just been discharged, from the oncoming stream and the bottom J then supports the succeeding an inverted frustum of a cone, in which thelass is wedged and thus temporarily held.

he molten glass,however, immediately com-- mences to sag or draw downwardly through and beyond the discharge opening A of the rece tacle, as indicated in Fig. 11.

T e bottom J while in closed posltion cools the contacting surface of the glass to a certain extent, tending to produce a thin surface layer of chilled or hardened glass, but as the said bottom is withdrawn before the accumulation of glass has proceeded very far, this cooling efi'ect is comparatively slight. After the bottom is withdrawn the cooled surface is reheated and softened by the heat from the interior of the mass. Owing to the area of said surface'being greatly extended the chilled layer of lass is attenuated or drawn out and the re eatin thus facilitated.

n'order to further reduce the effects of the chilling or cooling of the surface of the glass by its contact with the interior walls of the receptacle 1, the direction of said walls from an intermediate point B (Fig. '11) is changed or deflected outwardly from the general directioii of said walls above the point B. This lower portion of the lateral walls may be substantially vertical or more or less inclined or flared downwardly and outwardly. As a result of this arrangement the mass of glass as it sags downward through the open end of the receptacle is drawn inwardly more or less, leaving a space between the glass and the lower side walls. The surface of the glass which is thus separated from the walls is thereby given opportunity to be reheated from the interior of the mass. It will thus be seen that the cooling effect of said side walls is overcome, first, by shortening the time that the glass is in contact with said walls, and second, by permitting the surface of the glass to reheat while the mass is still supported in the receptacle. The shearing action is also materially improved by changing the direction of the lower side walls as described.

After the accumulating mass of glass has assumed the position indicated in Fig. 11, the sections of receptacle 1 are separated, allowing the mass to drop into asuitable forming mold therebeneath. The sections of said receptacle are then moved together again and the bottom J moved inwardly to cover the opening. causes the blade 4 to sever the mass from the attenuated This movement of the bottom discharged coming stream. I

The pneumatic controlling and operating mechanisms shown diagrammatically in'Fig. 7 will now be describe Each half of the two-part member 1, 1, is connected to the piston-rod of air cylinder 8, of which there are two, into which the air-pipes 18 and 32connect on either side of the piston-rod not shown.

The detail of these air-cylinders is not shown in the drawings for the reason that they are well known devices which need no description to the ordinary mechanic who will understand that admitting air to one side of the piston reciprocates it in one direction, and reversing the air and letting it into the other side of the piston reciprocates .it in the opposite direction.

stream orstring of glass connecting said mass with the on- Air-cylinder'25 operates a piston-rod connected by shank 3 of the cutting member. The detail of air-piston 25 is not shown for it will be understood by the ordinary mechanic as operating in the same manner as air-piston 8. Air-cylinder 46 operates piston 47, the piston-rod of which is fastened to a link 48 in the furnace-wall. Thus piston 47 is stationary while the cylinder 46 moves and being fastened to the mold-table moves the mold-table away from or toward the furnace-wall, and into or out of operative relation with the orifice in the flowblock of the furnace. 44 and 45 are lobevalves in the air-line to cylinder 46. 0 ac-. complish the operation of moving the moldtable into and out of operative relation to the flow-block of the furnace valve 38 is turned so that the port thereof is opposite line 68 and through line 68 the air is conducted to cylinder 46 at the back of piston 47 which moves cylinder 46 causing the machine to travel backward. By moving valve 38 so that the port opens on line 39 globe valve 45 being opened, the air passes to the forward side of the piston 47 and moves cylinder 46 forward so that the mold-table is drawn into operative relation with the fiow-block of the furnace.

11 isa cam which makes one complete revolution during the time of making one bottle. This cam operates valves 9 and .10.

pressure reducing valve 34 and delivers the.

air to the pipe manifold 37, and hand-operated valve 38. When 38 is rotated to open a port opposite line 39, globe-valve 45 being closed, air passes through pipe 39, check valve 43, and pipe 40 to pipes 41 and 42 and valves 9 and 10.

12 is a timing cylinder supplied with air through pipe 13 from valve 10, said cylinder having a piston, not shown, carrying on the end of the piston-rod a cam 14 and plunger 20 which operates valve 19.

15 is a valve operated by the pressure of cam 14 on the roller 54 and when free from said. cam is supplied with air through pipe 16 connected with main supply pipe 35. Pipe 17 connects valve 15 with manifold 18 leading to cylinders 8 and 8 which reciprocate the two-part member 1, 1.

19 is an air-valve which operates to open and close the passage of air from pipe 21 to pipe 32 which leads into the cylinders 8, 8

on the side of piston in said cylinders oppovalve 9 and at the other end into valve 29 which controls the supply of air to pipe 31 leading to cylinder 25 on the side of piston of said cylinder, opposite to line 24.

Valve 29- is operated by the plunger on the head of the piston 28in cylinder 27 38, as heretofore mentioned, is a'handrotated valve with ports controlling the supply of air to pipes 37, 39 and 68.

40 is a pipe-line leading from globe-valve 44 in manifold 37 to manifold 41, 42, to supply air to valves 9 and 10. 53 is the exhaust port in valve 15. (Fig. 8.) 54: is the roller in the end of piston55 in said valve which roller impinges upon cam 1e operated by cylinder 12. 56 is the exhaust port in valves 9 and 10. (Fig. 9.) 58 is the piston in said valves carryin roller 57 which contacts with cam 11. 59 Fig. 10) is a motor rotating shaft 60 and pulley 61 carrying belt 62 connecting pulley 63 on shaft 64: furnishing power to operate mold-table 65.

The connecting gearing synchronizing the rotation of cam 11 with the intermittent movements of the mold-carrying platform of the mold-table, are not shown on these drawings for the reason that any of many and various types of mold-tables may be used, and any competent Inechanician will understand the method of gearing said cam with the motive power operating the intermittent movements of the mold-carrying table so as to time the relative movements of themold-carrying platform with the movements of the cam 11.

66 and 67 are ball-check valves in the air-pipe 68 which pipe leads from valve 38 through said valves and connects with air-pipes 31 and 32.

The operation of my apparatus when the mold-table is in position for receiving moltenglass from the tank, is as follows:

Beginning with the position of cam 11 as shown (Fig. 7) in which position it'compresses piston 58 in valve 10 (Fig. 9), opening the port into line 13 supplies the airpressure to cylinder 12 forcing upward the piston in said cylinder which carries caml upward thereby opening valve 15, the piston of valve 15 being actuated by cam 14. Thereupon air passes from pipe 35 through pipe 16 and valve 15 into pipe 17 and thence through manifold 18 to cylinders 8, 8, at

the back ends thereof, causing the pistons in.

said cylinders 8, 8,,to travel forward and closing the two-part receptacle 1, 1. piston in cylinder 12 returns to normal position by gravity and air is exhausted from the timing cylinder 12 through a port in the bottom thereof. When the valve 10 is released from the high portion of the cam 11,

the pipe 13 is opened to atmosphere and the piston and the timing cylinder thereby permitted to descend.

In travelingto normal position cam 14;

The

closes valve 15 and air from cylinders 8, 8 exhausts tothe atmosphere through a port in valve 15.

Cam 11 being rotated to the positioln where it pushes back the piston 58 of valve 9, a portin said valve opposite line 22 is thereby opened into said line and air passes through pipe 22 into pipe 26 connected with pipe 23 to the check valve 24 admitting the air to the back end of cylinder 25, causing the piston to travel forward, closing the cutting member 3 over the opening in the lower side of the two-part receptacle 1, 1, cutting off the glass then protruding from the lower end of the said receptacle and permitting it to fall into the mold directly under said receptacle. At the same time air is admitted topipe 23, air is also admitted to pipe 26 supplying air to the timing cylinder 27 and causing piston 28 in cylinder 27 to travel upward, whereby plunger on the head of piston 28 retreats and allows valve 29 to follow and cut off the supply of air from line 30 and permits air to exhaust to the mosphere around the plunger of valve 29 from the forward end of cylinder 25 through line 31. Meanwhile cam 11 has continued to rotate and the air-pressure on the pistons of valves 9 and,10 from lines 41, e2, has forced the pistons out against the normal peripheryof cam 11, thereby opening ports for'compressed air supply to lines 21 and 30.

Air on line 30 is stopped by valve 29 and on line 21 at valve 19. When piston 28 returns to normal by gravity it opens a .port in valve 29 and air passes through line 31to the forward end of cylinder 25 cansing the piston therein to travel backward, thereby withdrawing cutting member 3 beyond the opening in the lower end of the two-part receptacle 1, 1, permitting the glass to depend therefrom and to assume a pearshape or globular shape, which glass naturally assumes when dropped from a punty.

Whatever chill-marks the glass has received .is accumulated the measured quantity permitted by the intervals of the reciprocation of the cutting member and the two-part receptacle 1, 1. V

Immediately following the closing of valve 15 by the downward travelpf cam 14: valve 19 is opened by the plunger 20 and air passes through lines 32to the forward end of cylinders 8, 8, thereby opening the two- 'part receptacle 1, 1, and permitting the accumulated glass to extend into the mold, the stream being attenuated above the globule; the two-part receptacle immediately returns to the first or closed position, at which time .the reciprocation of the cutting member is' again repeated cutting off the gather and dropping it into the mold.

It will be understood that the arrangement of the cam -11 and other parts and the adjustment of the timing elements 12 and 27 is such that the operation of the divided cup 1 and the cut-off or sliding bottom take place in the proper sequence and timed relation as hereinbefore pointed out. That is to say, the timing device 27 is adjusted to operate the valve 29 and cause the motor 25 to withdraw the sliding bottom a predetermined length of time before the timing device 12 operates the valve 19 to effect the opening of the cup 1'. This time interval is sufiicient to permit the reheating of the bottom of the mass of glass as heretofore explained and may be'controlled by regulat- 20 ing the escape of air from the timing cylinders l2 and ,27- and thereby controlling the speed at which the pistons descend in said cylinders.

The operation of the two-part receptacle, 1, 1, and the cutting member during the time when the mold-table is pulled away from the tank for the purpose of establishing the flowing stream and regulating the viscosity of the stream of glass, is as follows: Valve 45 is closed. Valve 38- is'rotated so that a port opens for line 68 through ballcheck valves 66' and 67. Air then passes to cylinder 12 from pipes 35-and 36 through manifold 37 with valve 44 open into pipe 40 and through this pipe to valves 9 and 10. The remainderof the operation to reciprocate air-pistons in cylinders 8, 8, and 25 is the same as heretofore described.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a glass-furnace having an orifice for emitting "a stream of molten glass, a two-part receptacle below, and in close operative relation to, the orifice of said furnace, which two-part receptacle when closed, has an opening therethrough registering with the orifice of said furnace,

the two parts of said receptacle being reciprocable to and from each other; means-for reciprocating said two parts of said receptaole; a reciprocable cut-off member below,

and in close operative relation to, said twopart receptacle and forming therewith when the latter is closed, a chamber containing less than the charge of glass required for the article to be formed; means for recipro eating said cut-ofi" member; a timing-cam on a mold-table, and means actuated by said cam to separately control the actuation of said two-part receptacle and cut-01f member in synchronism with the step-by-step rota- I ,tion of said mold-table and cause the cut-off member to be withdrawn a time interval before the parts of the receptacle are separated to release the charge, the receptacle being latter is closed, a chamber containing and -'when closed, has an opening therethrough registering with the orifice of said furnace; the two parts of said receptacle being reciprocable to and from each other; means for reciprocating said two parts of said receptacle; a reciprocable cut-off member below and in close operative relation to said two-part receptacle and forming therewith when 1the ess than the charge of glass required for t e article to be formed; means for withdrawing: said cut-off member from the path of the stream of glass and leaving the gather of glass supported in the open bottomed two part receptacle for a predetermined time interval before the receptacle is opened to drop its contained gather; and a timing cam which controls the actuation of said twopart receptacle and said cut-ofl membenin said timed relation and in synchronism with the step-by-step rotation of a mold-table carrying molds into operative relation to receive gathers of glass from said-two-part receptacle.

3. In combination with a glass-furnace having an orifice for emitting a stream of molten glass, two semi-cylindrical parts reciprocating to and from each f other and forming, when-closed, a cylinder open at the top and bottom re 'sterin'g with the orifice of said furnace; a i m'fe in contact with the lower end of said cylinder, reciprocating intermittently to sever a stream of glass passing therethrough; said cylinder and said knife when closed forming a chamber containing less than the charge of. glass required for the article to be formed; pneumat c-cylinders and pistons which reciprocate said semi-cylindrical parts and said knife; airsaid pneumatic cylinders, a'timing-cam by which said air-va vesare actuated, said cam being so formed and timed that it causes the knife to be withdrawn'a predeterminedtime interval before the parts of the cylinder are separated, said cam operablyconnected to,

moving in synchronism with the rotation of a mold-table.

4. The combination with means for establishing a flow of lass, of a device to temporarlly support-t e glass as it accumulates to form a gather, a cut-off device, pneumatic motors to actuate said supporting device to discharge the gather and to actuate the cutoff device to sever the gather from the oncoming stream, valves controlling the operation of said motors, timing mechanism to separately actuate said valves and cause the operation of said supporting device and said cut-ofl' device separately in a predetermined 5. The combination .with means for estab-- lishing a flow of glass, of a device to temporarily support the glass as it accumulates to form a gather, a cut-off device, pneumatic motors to actuate said supporting device to discharge the gather and to actuate the cutoff device to sever the gather from the oncoming stream, valves controlling the operation of said motors, pneumatic timing devices to separately actuate said valves, valve mechanism to control the setting of the timing mechanism, and automatic means to operate said valve mechanism at prede termined time intervals and cause the operation of said supporting device and said cutoff device separately in a predetermined timed relation.

6. The combination with means for establishing a flow of glass, of a two part receptacle to temporarily support the glass as it accumulates therein to form a gather, a cutoff device forming a closure for the bottom of said receptacle, a pneumatic motor to actuate said receptacle for discharging the gather, a pneumatic motor for operating the cut-off device, separate pneumatic timing devices for said motors, valves controlling the supply of air pressure for setting said. timing devices, and means to cause the. ac-

tuation of said. last named valves in timed relation.

7. The combination ,with meansfor establishing a flow of glass, of a two part receptacle to temporarily support the glass as it accumulates therein to form a gather, a cutoff device forming a closure for the bottom of said receptacle, a pneumatic motor to actuate said receptacle for discharging the gather, a pneumatic motor for operating the cut-off device, separate pneumatic timing devices for said motors, valves controlling the supply of air pressure for setting said timing devices, and automatic mechanism for actuating said valves in timed relation, the parts being arranged to cause the said bottom to first be withdrawn and then to cause said receptacle to be opened to discharge the gather.

In testimony whereof, I, the said JOSEPH B. GRAHAM, have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH B. GRAHAM. Witnesses:

Lo'r'rm VOLLMER, ARTHUR H. SEILER. 

